where to buy dial gauge holder for cam timing?

You’ll need two dials. One for measuring the TDC and the other for measuring the bucket travel.

The one for the TDC needs to be a long stem and with M10 threads (just as the spark plugs). I actually bought one with M14 thread and converted it ...

The second one is the one you’ll need the dial gauge holder for. I noticed it was easier and more stabile if I threaded the holder rod into the threads for the injector rails instead of using the magnetic base (kind of hard to understand maybe, but please see attached pics).

I bought all dials and tools on eBay but there’s quite a lot of alternatives out there.

Use Voiceys excellent write up: https://aldousvoice.com/2016/04/24/ferrari-360-engine-timing/


Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

To set the exhaust cams correctly is a nightmare! Take your time...

 

It's more accurate to find TDC with a dead stop. We are producing these but won't be ready for 4-6 weeks.

 

Hey Dave

I thought Ferrari method was not to use the dead stop method ...I thought it was to use the gauge and as soon as gauge reverses then you are tdc

Also I understand that tdc is pretty much accurate on our cars

I read many many discussions on 512 cars but not sure if the same on our v8s

Thoughts ?

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

 

Well, having it on a bench will make things a lot easier.

The problem is how the bucket (exhaust side), almost hides behind the camshaft / lobe. It’s just hard to get a good straight angle for the gauge stem to work on.

I actually made a small flange (see pic above), and screwed it on to the stem. It rested on the tip of the bucket and allowed me to get good consistent readings.

Good luck!

 

I have much respect for your knowledge Dave, but the dead stop won’t allow you to see the travel of the piston when setting timing on the exhaust cam. Right?

9 degrees prior to TDC according to the WSM... A degree wheel / disc is of course needed, but I for sure couldn’t have done it with a dead stop alone.

Isn’t there a risk that one might actually do damage to the piston if the dead stop is used incorrectly (screwed too far down)?

 

Guys - so let me be clear - the dead stop can be used in place of a dial indicator for finding TDC, not for measuring valve lift - you still need an indicator for that.

Let me summarize the problem using a dial indicator making contact with the piston to find TDC (credit to my friend JohnK):

With a degree wheel mounted to the crank, as you rotate the crank and watch the dial indicator, you are watching for the position in which the indicator comes to a stop, indicating the piston has reached the top. Now, while you are rotating and watching, it's 100% impossible to stop rotating at the exact point you see the indicator has stopped moving because the only way you know it has stopped is by over rotating some amount. How much is that amount? I don't know, it could be a degree. I plan to create a video using 2 synchronized cameras - one on the indicator, one on the degree wheel.

Here is a thread not too long ago: (note - you need to review this with an opened mind)

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/methods-to-find-tdc.566572/

And here are a few cell phone videos I made:







Lastly, I'm still working on doing more experiments when I have the time.

 

Using a stop takes the dwell into account which Ferrari does not want you to do .....as I mentioned before the tdc marks that are there should not be discounted too much...

Like you said Dave ..there is multiple threads on the tdc method ..a quick seartch will yield hundreds of posts

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

 

I've measured the dwell on my 355 as 1 degree. that dwell is a result of clearance between the rod bearing and crank. Using a dial indicator may result in greater inaccuracy than 1 degree and John has proven to me the results will be the same (assuming that the dial indicator method would be accurate).

When I get the time to do the synchronized video, nobody is going to be able to deny the inaccuracy of using the dial indicator to find TDC.